WITRON Develops Efficient Mobile Picking System

The latest innovation from WITRON Logistik + Informatik GmbH is the Efficient Mobile Picking system (EMP), which offers intelligent logistics processes, fully integrated replenishment control, as well as 'person-to-goods' order picking using WIBOTs.

WIBOTs are autonomous picking mobiles that are linked in the sense of swarm-intelligence and take the lead in the picking process. The new system was developed for the logistics centres of food and online retailers, and parts distribution.

Decisive Benefits

Based on the EMP software and EMP modules developed by WITRON especially for this solution, all processes and parties involved in the entire system are permanently linked with one other.

This offers numerous benefits for the customer: optimal arrangement of goods in the pick front, efficient replenishment control, the best possible utilisation of the picking team members, high pick and work safety, route-optimised and store-friendly order picking, and transparency regarding stored items.

In addition, the system is scalable. On request, the customer can start with a small EMP system and expand it seamlessly according to demands and business development in a modular manner.

Intelligent Features

Intelligent order control provides impressive added values for efficiency increase. The system access to previous and current sales numbers considering weekday fluctuations or with regard to marketing and sales actions offers the possibility of a pro-active personnel and 'production planning' - in the sense of Predictive Analytics.

In addition to the double-deep and multi-depth storage, the pick front can also be stocked with different types of load carriers - with automated replenishment in real-time through stacker cranes. Fast movers are stored on pallets, medium movers on layer trays, and slow movers on small trays. It is also possible to integrate a tote pick front into the picking aisle.

The WIBOT

In addition to the innovative logic of the EMP system, the picking mobiles called WIBOTs, developed by WITRON, are the central picking element. They optimise the entire logistics and picking process significantly. Depending on the order workload, the number of the used picking mobiles can be adjusted rapidly and easily.

The vehicle is guided automatically to the respective picking location by means of WITRON’s EMP software. The software is also used for the communication of the individual WIBOTs among each other and represents a central element of swarm intelligence.

Position scanners on both sides of the vehicle automatically register the barcodes applied at the rack locations, if the WIBOT orients itself in the logistics centre and stops independently at the correct pick location. A scanner applied at the front side of the vehicle guides the WIBOT collision-free through the aisle.

Ergonomic Order Picking

Order picking is practically error-free through the precise support of the WIBOT. It shows the next pick location through LED displays and drives to the correct position with the optimal distance to the pick front.

Parallel picking of up to three orders on different load carriers such as pallets or roll containers is simultaneously possible in the same process. An optical signal shows the picker on which load carrier a case has to be placed. Pick-by-light displays show the respective quantity to be removed from the pick position.

Another benefit is that the warehouse employee can have the complete order be visually shown prior to start the picking process Practical experiences have shown that the stacking pattern is optimised and the picking velocity has increased through this functionality. Based on this 'human-machine-interface', the experience of the employees is considered in the work process in the best possible way.

Once the picker has finished the picking process, they can either confirm the process by simply touching the smart watch at their wrist or by waving the foot under the pallet. It is also possible to integrate pick-by-voice or radio frequency technology.

With just a few steps, the picker follows the picking mobile to the next picking position - they are no longer required to get on or off the vehicle between two picking processes. Once the order has been completed, the picker guides the picking mobile manually towards the dispatch area.